Top construction



sept. 21 1926. n

. 1,600,532 J. H. soURGoN To? consrucnon .Filed DBC. 15. 1924 Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

l'v UNITen- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H.- BOURGON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER COR- PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND,V INDIANA, AND DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF -NEW JERSEY,

Tor CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 13, 1924. Serial No. 7553727'.l

This relates totops for motor vehioles'and the like and particularly to tops of the permanent type, and has for one of its objects to provide` a permanent top frame shaped from a continuous piece of sheet metal to whichv the various other top frame members may be applied to form a permanent unitary structure.

Another object is tolpr'ovide a permanent top shaped froma continuous sheet of metal, with transverse slots spaced at frequent intervals along the upper portion thereof, dividing the upper central surface into independent sections, one edge of the metal being displaced informing the slot by binding the metal downwardly perpendicular to the plane of the top thus providing a means Jfor stii'ening the independent sections.

v A further object is to provide a permanent top shaped from va continuous piece of sheet metal having transverse slots at spaced intervals along the upper portion thereof, the metal displaced in the forming yof the slots being bent downwardly to form` cross ribs, and for further strengthening the top with wooden members secured to the cross ribs to whichthe top innervlining is secured. y

A still further object is to provide a permanent topshaped from a continuous piece of sheet metal, with a wooden cross member secured to the Lfront portion thereof lto provide a fastening means for the front top supports, the rainshield and the windshield, and to also provide a continuous wooden tacking strip along the lower edge of the top frame to which the top covering and lining can be secured. y l

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists of .cer'

tain features of construction and combination of parte to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 isa perspective view of the tin-` ished topas it may appearrupon an automobile body. y I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top frame` before the top Covering, lining and other finishing parts are assembled thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view sho-wing one of the slotted openings, the cross rib being formed integral'therewith, and the wooden tacking strips fastened to the cross ribwith the top .lining secured to the tacking strips. A y

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a longitudinalsection taken through the top frame showing the top lin.-r ing assembled thereto.

As shown in Figure 1, the complete top is assembled to an automobile body 11 and is supported thereon by frontsupports 12 and rear supporting member 13. The top frame 111 is formed to a suitable shape from a continuous piece of sheet metal, the sides' of which., as shown in Figure 4, andthe back are curved downwardly and have the bottom edges bent inwardly substantially perpendic-A ular tothe sides to form a horizontally eX- tending attachings'urface or flange for the continuous tacking strip 15 which extends around the sides and rear portion thereof to provide a means for tacking the edges of the top covering material thereto.y

Heretofore tops of this nature, 'which were completely formed orl covered withv sheet metal, had no provision made for releasing the innumerable strains set upvcaused by the weaving of the top as the automobile of which it formed apart passes over rough and uneven roads, but in the present invention to overcome these strainsand to allow the top to weave without injury thereto, a plurality of transverse slottedopenings 16 are formed rtherein and spaced at frequent intervals in the upper portion thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 3. 4

In the past tops wherein the central portion is bridged by sheet metal or where the top frame is' formed from a continuous sheet of metal, have not been satisfactory because of the drumming that occurs therein and the tendency of the sheet metal forming the top to vibrate in harmony lwith vother vibrations present in the automobile of which it forms a part, much in the same way that a drum head may be made to vvibrate in unison with other nearby vibrations. The slotted openings 16 mentioned in the preceding paragraph and which extend substantially across the upper surface of the top, divide this surface up into a number of independent sections thereby decreasing the tendency of the Whole upper surface to vibra-te or drum. To turther break down the vibration or drumming, downwardly extending stilening members or ribs 17 are provided in the up-r may be ot an advantage to bend down bo-th edges of the slotted openings 16 thereby strengthening the independent sections atl each end.

A, wooden cros'spiece 18 may be rigidly secured to the front end or" the trame 1st which provides a suitable mounting for the Windshield 19 and rainshieldQO and for securing the front supports 12 thereto, as Well as providing a means for securing the front end of the top covering thereto,

It is possible in the present invention to provide a permanent top having the inside completely lined to give a very neat and finished appearance by securing Wooden tacking strips 21 with screws 22 to each one of the cross ribs 17 which serve to stiften the structure andto Which the flap 23 seWed to the inner lining 24 may be tacked leaving no exposed tacks or screws. The lining is attached at the front to the front cross piece as shown in Figure 5, and also atthe rear to the tacking strip 15 and at the sides to the tacking strips 15. vAdditional tacking` strips such as 25 may be secured to the curved rear portion t0 give added .shape to the lining Q41-,

Ther present invention is not limited to Open type automobilesas illustrated but is yequally applicable to closed types of automobiles and formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described Without departing from the spirit and substance of ythe broad invention the scope of which is commensurate With the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. An automobile top frame formed from av continuous sheet of metal tothe approximate shape of a finished top and having a plurality of transverse slots formed therein extending substantially across the same, dividing the central portion of said frame into a plurality of sections connected only at.

top portion and integral side quarters' and having a plurality of transverse slots formedV in the top portion dividing the upper central portion of said frame into a plurality 0f sections connected only at saidV side quarters, and a plurality of transverse ribs extending downwardly from said central portion to strengthen Said sections in a direction perpendicular to the plane of their surface.

Ll. An `automobile top frame formed from a continuous sheet of metal to the approximate shape of a finished top and having a plurality ot transverse slots formed therein,

dividing the upper central portion of said i frame into a plurality of sections, transverse ribs formed from the metal displaced in forming said slots, and tacking strips secured to said transverse ribs to further strengthen said independent sections in a direction perpendicular tothe plane of their surface.

5L An automobile top frame having coved sides and a horizontally disposed upper sur` face formed, from a continuous sheet of inetal, a plurality of transverse Slots formed therein, extending across said horizontal surface substantially to said curved sides, anges adjacent one Side of said slots formed from the metal displaced in forming saidV slots, a tacking strip secured to each of said flanges, and a top lining secured to said Vtacking strip.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 5th day of December, 1924.

JOSEPH H. BOURGON.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certifiedv that in Letters Patent No. 1,600,532, granted September 21, 1926, upon the application of Joseph H. Bourgon, of Detroit, Michigan, for Top Construction, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 66, claim Q, after the Word slots insert the Words the metal displaced 'in form-ing said slots form/ng fr, flange on 'one side thereof; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Ofice.

Signed and sealed this 12th daf)T of October, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Commissioner of Pat-ents. 

